1950s: 1,954 people
Yutaka Ōta (Japanese: 太田寛; 19 September 1956 – 28 November 2025) was a Japanese politician.
Kazuharu Sonoda (薗田 一治, Sonoda Kazuharu; September 16, 1956 – November 28, 1987) also known under the ring names Haru…
Kazuharu Sonoda (薗田 一治, Sonoda Kazuharu; September 16, 1956 – November 28, 1987) also known under the ring names Haru Sonoda (ハル 薗田) and Magic Dragon (マジック・ドラゴン, Majikku Doragon), was a Japanese professional wrestler. He was a former NWA Western States Tag Team Champion, NWA/WWC North American Tag Team Champion with Mitsu Ishikawa and the WCCW All Asia Tag Team Championship with the Great Kabuki in 1982.
O Sonfa (Japanese: 呉 善花; オ・ソンファ, born 15 September 1956), also known by her Korean name Oh Seon-hwa (Korean: 오선화), is a…
O Sonfa (Japanese: 呉 善花; オ・ソンファ, born 15 September 1956), also known by her Korean name Oh Seon-hwa (Korean: 오선화), is a former professor in the School of International Relations at Takushoku University in Tokyo. She is currently a professor of International Relations at Tokyo International University. She is also active as an author and journalist in Japan. She is a critic in many fields such as current issues, history, and culture, particularly in East Asian Countries. Originally from Jeju Island, South Korea, she left for Japan in 1983. She received a BA degree from Daito Bunka University and an MA degree from the Graduate School of North American Studies at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. She went on to naturalise as a Japanese citizen. In 1998, she lost her South Korean nationality as she had acquired Japanese nationality in 1991. In 2007 and 2013, she was refused entry to South Korea. She has since been a source of controversy in Korea due to her open criticism of not only the South Korean government, but Korean culture as a whole. After the 2014 sinking of MV Sewol disaster, she described Koreans as "having no patriotism and completely selfish", and argued that Japan should not try to reconcile its differences with South Korea. O denies that "comfort women", a euphemism for Korean women who are considered by international consensus to have been forced prostitutes during World War II, were forced to work at all.
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi (長渕 剛, Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi; born September 7, 1956) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, poet, and…
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi (長渕 剛, Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi; born September 7, 1956) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, poet, and human-rights advocate, who is a prominent figure in Japanese popular music. He has sold more than 20 million records worldwide and has appeared in movies and television dramas. His wife Etsuko Shihomi is an actress.
Masahiro Akimoto (秋元 正博, Akimoto Masahiro) (born 3 September 1956) is a Japanese former ski jumper.
Yoshiko Ishiba (née Nakamura; born 26 August 1956) is the wife of Shigeru Ishiba, the former prime minister of Japan.…
Yoshiko Ishiba (née Nakamura; born 26 August 1956) is the wife of Shigeru Ishiba, the former prime minister of Japan. She previously worked for Marubeni.
Takeshi Okada (岡田 武史, Okada Takeshi; born August 25, 1956) is a Japanese football manager and former player who played…
Takeshi Okada (岡田 武史, Okada Takeshi; born August 25, 1956) is a Japanese football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is currently the owner of FC Imabari.
Kumiko Owada (大和田 久美子, Ōwada Kumiko; 23 August 1956 – 23 April 2020), née Okae (岡江), was a Japanese actress, voice…
Kumiko Owada (大和田 久美子, Ōwada Kumiko; 23 August 1956 – 23 April 2020), née Okae (岡江), was a Japanese actress, voice actress, and television presenter. She was known for her work on television dramas, as well as hosting entertainment and variety shows, such as Renso Game on NHK. Okae also hosted the morning show Hanamaru Market on Tokyo Broadcasting System Television from 1996 to 2014.
Takarakuni Minoru (born 16 August 1956 as Minoru Saisu) is a former sumo wrestler from Higashi, Fukushima, Japan. He…
Takarakuni Minoru (born 16 August 1956 as Minoru Saisu) is a former sumo wrestler from Higashi, Fukushima, Japan. He made his professional debut in July 1971, joining the original Isegahama stable, recruited by former yokozuna Terukuni, and reached the top division in March 1982. His highest rank was maegashira 2. Following his retirement from active competition he remained in the sumo world as a sewanin under his real name Saisu, and was a member of Asahiyama stable and then the new Isegahama stable. He reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 for sumo personnel in August 2021 and left his position. In November 1973 he won out in an extraordinary twelve-way playoff for the Jonidan championship, winning four additional bouts for a final score of 6–1–PPPP.
Akimi Yoshida (吉田 秋生, Yoshida Akimi; born August 12, 1956) is a Japanese manga artist.
Takashi Esaki (江崎孝, Esaki Takashi; born 11 August 1956) is a Japanese politician from the Constitutional Democratic…
Takashi Esaki (江崎孝, Esaki Takashi; born 11 August 1956) is a Japanese politician from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. He serves as member of the House of Councillors as a national proportional representative.
Chiaki Takahashi (高橋 千秋, Takahashi Chiaki; born August 2, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of…
Chiaki Takahashi (高橋 千秋, Takahashi Chiaki; born August 2, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Anō, Mie and graduate of Meiji University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2000 after running unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 1998.
Hideaki Hara (原 秀章 (Hara Hideaki), born 1 August 1956) is a Japanese former swimmer. He competed in three events at the…
Hideaki Hara (原 秀章 (Hara Hideaki), born 1 August 1956) is a Japanese former swimmer. He competed in three events at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Jin Matsubara (松原 仁, Matsubara Jin; born 31 July 1956) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of…
Jin Matsubara (松原 仁, Matsubara Jin; born 31 July 1956) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He was appointed Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety and Minister for the Abduction Issue. Matsubara was formerly affiliated with Party of Hope and the Democratic Party (the Democratic Party of Japan).
Ken'ichi Yamamoto (山本兼一, Yamamoto Ken'ichi; July 23, 1956 – February 13, 2014) was a Japanese writer. After first being…
Ken'ichi Yamamoto (山本兼一, Yamamoto Ken'ichi; July 23, 1956 – February 13, 2014) was a Japanese writer. After first being employed by a publisher, Yamamoto, himself, became a full-time writer. In 2004, he won the Seichō Matsumoto Award for Katen no shiro, and in 2009 the Naoki Prize for Rikyū ni Tazune yo. Both books were made into movies. Yamamoto died on February 13, 2014, from lung cancer at the age of 57.
Kozo Nagayama (永山耕三, Nagayama Kozo; born on July 22, 1956, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese television and film director.
Fukumi Kuroda (黒田 福美, Kuroda Fukumi; born July 21, 1956 in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress.
Akira Hagiwara (萩原 光, Hagiwara Akira; 21 July 1956 – 7 April 1986) was a Japanese racing driver.
Ryo Ishibashi (石橋 凌, Ishibashi Ryō; born Hideki Ishibashi; July 20, 1956) is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known…
Ryo Ishibashi (石橋 凌, Ishibashi Ryō; born Hideki Ishibashi; July 20, 1956) is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known internationally for his starring roles in the horror films Audition (1999), Suicide Club (2001), The Grudge (2004) and its sequel The Grudge 2 (2006). He is also the lead singer of the Japanese rock band ARB.
Yoshiaki Yatsu (谷津嘉章 Yatsu Yoshiaki, born July 19, 1956) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and amateur…
Yoshiaki Yatsu (谷津嘉章 Yatsu Yoshiaki, born July 19, 1956) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and amateur wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is known for being one-half of the first-ever All Japan Pro Wrestling World Tag Team Champions with Jumbo Tsuruta, having won the NWA International Tag Team Championship and the PWF Tag Team Championship, and unifying the two titles.
Emi Akimoto (Japanese: 秋元恵美; born 19 July 1956) is a Japanese former track and field athlete who specialised in the 100…
Emi Akimoto (Japanese: 秋元恵美; born 19 July 1956) is a Japanese former track and field athlete who specialised in the 100 metres hurdles. She was the gold medallist in the event at the Asian Athletics Championships three times consecutively from 1979 to 1983, breaking the championship record each time. She won two gold medals at the Asian Games in 1982, running in the hurdles and 4×100 metres relay. Akimoto was a six-time champion at the Japan Championships in Athletics. She represented her country at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics and ran for Asia at the IAAF World Cup in 1979 and 1981. She was also a two-time medallist at the Pacific Conference Games. In her later career she ran under her married name: Emi Sasaki (Japanese: 佐々木恵美).
Sadanoumi Kōji (佐田の海 鴻嗣) (born 19 July 1956 as Kōji Matsumara (松村 宏司, Matsumura Kōji)) is a former sumo wrestler from…
Sadanoumi Kōji (佐田の海 鴻嗣) (born 19 July 1956 as Kōji Matsumara (松村 宏司, Matsumura Kōji)) is a former sumo wrestler from Sakai, Osaka, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1972, and reached the top division in November 1980. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in July 1988 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Tagonoura. He left the Sumo Association in August 1999. He is the father of the current sekitori wrestler of the same name, Sadanoumi Takashi.
Toshio Toyota (豊田 敏夫, Toyota Toshio; born 19 July 1956) is a Japanese retired sprinter. He qualified for the 1980 Japan…
Toshio Toyota (豊田 敏夫, Toyota Toshio; born 19 July 1956) is a Japanese retired sprinter. He qualified for the 1980 Japan Olympic team but did not compete due to the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. He was the gold medallist in the 200 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1981 Asian Championships and the first Japanese to run under 21 seconds with electronic timing in the 200 metres.
Toshihiko Seko (瀬古 利彦, Seko Toshihiko; born July 15, 1956) is a Japanese former long-distance runner. He was a…
Toshihiko Seko (瀬古 利彦, Seko Toshihiko; born July 15, 1956) is a Japanese former long-distance runner. He was a world-class marathon competitor in the 1980s. He represented his native country at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Seko's notable marathon wins include Fukuoka Marathon (1978–1980, 1983), Boston Marathon (1981, 1987), London Marathon (1986) and Chicago Marathon (1986). On March 22, 1981, Seko set world records at 25,000 m (1:13:55.8) and 30,000 m (1:29:18.8). The records stood for 30 years until they were broken by Moses Mosop in June 2011. On April 20, 1981, Seko shaved one second off Bill Rodgers's course record at the Boston Marathon. Seko was a coach at the S & B Foods Track Team until the team was disbanded in 2012. He also was a member of the Tokyo 2016 Olympics Advisory Panel. He serves on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education from December 21, 2007. He was devoted to the sport above other interests and once remarked "The marathon is my only girlfriend. I give her everything I have."
Midori Matsushima (Japanese: 松島 みどり, Hepburn: Matsushima Midori; born 15 July 1956) also known by her legal name Midori…
Midori Matsushima (Japanese: 松島 みどり, Hepburn: Matsushima Midori; born 15 July 1956) also known by her legal name Midori Baba (馬場 みどり, Baba Midori) is a Japanese politician. She served as Japan's Minister of Justice in 2014, later resigning in the same year after an allegation of violating electoral laws by distributing paper fans to voters.
Shūhei Kishimoto (岸本周平, Kishimoto Shūhei; 12 July 1956 – 15 April 2025) was a Japanese politician who served as…
Shūhei Kishimoto (岸本周平, Kishimoto Shūhei; 12 July 1956 – 15 April 2025) was a Japanese politician who served as governor of Wakayama Prefecture from 2022 until his death in 2025. He was previously a member of House of Representatives from 2009 and 2022, being elected five times from Wakayama 1st district. Born in Wakayama and educated at the University of Tokyo, Kishimoto worked at the Ministry of Finance and Toyota before entering politics in 2009.
Katsuyoshi Yatabe (谷田部 勝義) (born July 11, 1956 in Tokyo) is a Japanese screenwriter, anime director and sound director.…
Katsuyoshi Yatabe (谷田部 勝義) (born July 11, 1956 in Tokyo) is a Japanese screenwriter, anime director and sound director. He is best known for directing the first three entries in Sunrise's Brave series and the first shotacon anime adaptation (Boku no Pico).
Nobutoshi Hikage (日蔭 暢年, Hikage Nobutoshi; born 9 July 1956) is a Japanese judoka. He was two times world champion of…
Nobutoshi Hikage (日蔭 暢年, Hikage Nobutoshi; born 9 July 1956) is a Japanese judoka. He was two times world champion of Half-middleweight category. He is from Miyako, Iwate. He began judo at the age of a 6th grader. After graduation from Kokushikan University, He belonged to Iwate Prefectural Police. He won the gold medal of world championships in 1983 and 1985. He participate All-Japan Championships 6 times and won the bronze medal in 1982. He tried by the supervision of all-Japan women's team at 2005 World Championships and 2008 Summer Olympics.
Pailin Chuchottaworn (Thai: ไพรินทร์ ชูโชติถาวร, RTGS: Phairin Chuchotithawon; born 8 July 1956) is a Thai businessman…
Pailin Chuchottaworn (Thai: ไพรินทร์ ชูโชติถาวร, RTGS: Phairin Chuchotithawon; born 8 July 1956) is a Thai businessman, and from 2011 to 2015 was the chief executive officer (CEO) of PTT Public Company Limited, a Thai state-owned oil and gas company, and a Fortune Global 500 company.
Ryuho Okawa (大川 隆法; Ōkawa Ryūhō; born Takashi Nakagawa (中川 隆; Nakagawa Takashi), 7 July 1956 – 2 March 2023) was a…
Ryuho Okawa (大川 隆法; Ōkawa Ryūhō; born Takashi Nakagawa (中川 隆; Nakagawa Takashi), 7 July 1956 – 2 March 2023) was a Japanese religious and political leader who was the CEO and founder of the Happy Science and the Happiness Realization Party. He was also an author and chairman of two companies affiliated with the organization, New Star Production and ARI Production. His organization has been widely criticised as a cult. Adherents of the religion worship Okawa, who claimed to be the current incarnation of a god called "El Cantare" and a number of other beings, including Hermes and Gautama Buddha.
Shunsuke Mutai (務台 俊介, Mutai Shunsuke; born 3 July 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who…
Shunsuke Mutai (務台 俊介, Mutai Shunsuke; born 3 July 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who served in the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). He was first elected in the 2012 general election. He is a former career bureaucrat in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (briefly serving as Director of the CLAIR London Office) and graduate of University of Tokyo. Having unsuccessfully contested the Nagano 2nd district in the 2009 general election, he then served as a professor of local administration at Kanagawa University. Mutai was Secretary to the Alliance of Legislators who wish to legislate for Mountain Day, which was inaugurated in August 2016. In 2016 Mutai was appointed Parliamentary Vice Minister for Reconstruction and shortly after hit global headlines concerning an incident concerning a ministerial visit to a disaster-hit region. Half year later at a campaign party Mutai joked about the incident only to be criticized by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. Mutai resigned from his post on the following day. At the 2017 general election Mutai was defeated in his Nagano constituency but re-elected to the Diet under his party's proportional representation bloc. He was reappointed to government as a State Minister for the Environment in October 2021 but relieved of his position in the August 2022 Kishida reshuffle .
Daisuke Hinata (born July 2, 1956) is a Japanese music producer, composer, keyboardist, synthesist, synthesizer…
Daisuke Hinata (born July 2, 1956) is a Japanese music producer, composer, keyboardist, synthesist, synthesizer programmer, recording engineer, and studio designer. He is the owner/producer of VSA Studio, a recording studio located in California, US. He is also the owner of the record label “Hyperdisc” and "Global Disc". His older brother is Toshifumi Hinata, also a music composer and producer.
Tomoko Akane (Japanese: 赤根智子; born 28 June 1956) is a Japanese jurist and current judge at the International Criminal…
Tomoko Akane (Japanese: 赤根智子; born 28 June 1956) is a Japanese jurist and current judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Japan, as well as the president of the court.
Takashi Nishimoto (西本 聖, Nishimoto Takashi; born June 27, 1956) is a Japanese baseball coach and retired pitcher. He…
Takashi Nishimoto (西本 聖, Nishimoto Takashi; born June 27, 1956) is a Japanese baseball coach and retired pitcher. He played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants, Chunichi Dragons, and Orix Blue Wave from 1976 through 1993. In 1981, Nishimoto won the Eiji Sawamura Award. Winning the 1981 Japan Series, he was named the Japan Series Most Valuable Player. Nishimoto won seven straight Gold Glove Awards from 1979 through 1985. He won the Nippon Professional Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1989. After his retirement as a player, Nishimoto coached for the Hanshin Tigers and the Chiba Lotte Marines. In 2013, he coached the Orix Buffaloes. His brother, Akikazu Nishimoto, played in NPB.
Shunichi Nagasaki (長崎俊一, Nagasaki Shun'ichi; 18 June 1956) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter.
Seiji Ono (小野 誠治, Ono Seiji; born June 18, 1956) is a former international table tennis player from Japan.
Tohjiro or TOHJIRO (June 17, 1956 – July 17, 2026) was a Japanese adult video (AV) director and the founder of the AV…
Tohjiro or TOHJIRO (June 17, 1956 – July 17, 2026) was a Japanese adult video (AV) director and the founder of the AV studio Dogma.
Shunichi Mizuoka (水岡 俊一, Mizuoka Shun'ichi; born June 13, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional…
Shunichi Mizuoka (水岡 俊一, Mizuoka Shun'ichi; born June 13, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, a former member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Seiji Nishimura (西村誠司, Nishimura Seiji; born June 9, 1956), Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan) he is a Japanese karateka. He…
Seiji Nishimura (西村誠司, Nishimura Seiji; born June 9, 1956), Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan) he is a Japanese karateka. He has a 7th.Dan black belt in Wadō-ryū karate and is the national trainer of the Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF).
Yoko Hayashi (林 陽子, Hayashi Yōko; born June 9, 1956) is a Japanese lawyer and partner in the Athena Law Office. She was…
Yoko Hayashi (林 陽子, Hayashi Yōko; born June 9, 1956) is a Japanese lawyer and partner in the Athena Law Office. She was formerly an alternate member to the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights from 2004 to 2006. In 2008, she became a member of the Committee which monitors the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and in 2015 was serving as Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Hayashi has used her legal expertise to improve the status and protect the rights of women.
Shuji Yamada (山田 修司, Yamada Shūji) (born 2 June 1956) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984…
Shuji Yamada (山田 修司, Yamada Shūji) (born 2 June 1956) is a Japanese former volleyball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Kiyohiro Araki (荒木 清寛, Araki Kiyohiro; born June 1, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member…
Kiyohiro Araki (荒木 清寛, Araki Kiyohiro; born June 1, 1956) is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Ena, Gifu and graduate of Soka University, he was elected for the first time in 1992.
Tatsutoshi Goto (後藤 達俊, Gotō Tatsutoshi; born May 25, 1956) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He competed primarily…
Tatsutoshi Goto (後藤 達俊, Gotō Tatsutoshi; born May 25, 1956) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He competed primarily in WAR and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and briefly used the name "T2000 Machine". He also briefly competed in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as part of the nWo Japan.
Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (尾崎直道, Ozaki Naomichi; ジョー Jō) (born 18 May 1956) is a Japanese professional golfer.
Noriko Furuya (古屋 範子, Furuya Noriko; born 14 May 1956) is a Japanese politician who served in the House of…
Noriko Furuya (古屋 範子, Furuya Noriko; born 14 May 1956) is a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives as a member of the Komeito Party. Furuya is from Urawa, Saitama and a graduate of Waseda University, she was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2003.
Mitsuru Sakurai (桜井 充, Sakurai Mitsuru; born 1956) is a Japanese politician formerly of the Democratic Party of Japan…
Mitsuru Sakurai (桜井 充, Sakurai Mitsuru; born 1956) is a Japanese politician formerly of the Democratic Party of Japan and is now a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He is a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature).
Misugiiso Takuya (born 11 May 1956 as Hidenori Kamisawa) is a former sumo wrestler from Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan. He…
Misugiiso Takuya (born 11 May 1956 as Hidenori Kamisawa) is a former sumo wrestler from Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1971, and reached the top division in November 1977. His highest rank was maegashira 2. He was a member of Hanakago stable and served as sword-bearer to his stablemate Wajima during the yokozuna dohyo-iri. He retired in September 1986, and as of 2021 he is an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Minezaki. He was the head coach of Minezaki stable which he founded in 1988 until its closure in 2021. He speaks English due to his frequent trips to Hawaii. He is married with one son. After reaching 65 years of age in May 2021 he was re-employed for a further five years as a consultant and is currently working at Shibatayama stable. Nicknamed "Drone master", Misugiiso is known for his passion for drones piloting his own machines and having accumulated over 280 hours of flight handling. In December 2021, he was asked by the Japan Sumo Association to collaborate on an aerial photography project of the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.
Tatsuya Mori (森 達也, Mori Tatsuya; born 10 May 1956) is a Japanese documentary filmmaker, TV director, and author.
Takuzo Aida (相田 卓三, Aida Takuzō, born 3 May 1956) is a Japanese polymer chemist specializing in supramolecular…
Takuzo Aida (相田 卓三, Aida Takuzō, born 3 May 1956) is a Japanese polymer chemist specializing in supramolecular chemistry and materials science. He is deputy director of the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and a distinguished professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology at the University of Tokyo.
Akio Toyoda (豊田 章男, Toyoda Akio; born 3 May 1956), also known by his racing name Morizo Kinoshita, is a Japanese…
Akio Toyoda (豊田 章男, Toyoda Akio; born 3 May 1956), also known by his racing name Morizo Kinoshita, is a Japanese business executive who is the chairman of Toyota. He was previously the company's president and chief executive officer (CEO). Toyoda is a grandson of the founder of Toyota Motors, Kiichiro Toyoda, and a great-grandson of both the industrialist, Sakichi Toyoda, and the founder of the Takashimaya department stores corporation, Shinshichi Iida. On 1 April 2023, Toyoda stepped down as Toyota president and became chairman of the board. Toyota's chief branding officer and president of the Lexus division, Koji Sato, succeeded Toyoda as CEO.